# Alaska's Newest Rare-Earth AI Won't Hunt for Ore > Brandon Briggs's UAA team holds $3,824,575 of a $6 million NSF bet on microbes and AI for rare earths in coal refuse and ash. Published 2026-10-09 by Alaska AI. 9 slides. Canonical: https://alaskaaihq.com/archive/2026-10-09/ ## The story Alaska's newest rare-earth AI won't hunt for ore. It will mind microbes. Two jobs, and neither is prospecting. A $6 million NSF project led by UAA plans to pull rare earths out of coal refuse and ash with microbes. AI is to rank the waste first, then run the tank as power comes and goes. Alaska doesn't mine rare earths. Coal holds a little. Researcher D'Lynn Gleason said so in earlier UAA lab work on coal donated by Usibelli Coal Mine in Healy. She said that coal carries rare earths, scandium and yttrium among them, too thin to mine with acid. One microbe is named. The award names Shewanella oneidensis. It will be tested on cost and life-cycle metrics. Rank the waste before it's fed. UAF says AI will help predict how readily rare earths can be recovered from different materials. The award calls it a Virtual Assay to screen feedstocks. It is planned, not built. The power dips. Something has to decide what the tank does. Job two, the Alaska part. Reinforcement-learning controllers will learn inside a digital twin of the bioreactor, linked to microgrid simulators, and adjust it as energy availability changes. The award's own word is energy-constrained. About $6 million, to August 31st, 2030. Began September 1st. One of eight EPSCoR projects sharing $39.9 million. New deposits, or old waste? Where should Alaska point its mineral AI? ## What we verified - NSF award 2614749 went to the University of Alaska Anchorage. [U.S. National Science Foundation award database](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards.json?id=2614749&printFields=id,title,date,startDate,expDate,awardeeName,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,piFirstName,piLastName,coPDPI,abstractText,fundProgramName), primary document, 2026-08-05. - Brandon Briggs is the principal investigator on the UAA award. [U.S. National Science Foundation award database](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards.json?id=2614749&printFields=id,title,date,startDate,expDate,awardeeName,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,piFirstName,piLastName,coPDPI,abstractText,fundProgramName), primary document, 2026-08-05. - The UAA award carries an estimated total of $3,824,575. [U.S. National Science Foundation award database](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards.json?id=2614749&printFields=id,title,date,startDate,expDate,awardeeName,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,piFirstName,piLastName,coPDPI,abstractText,fundProgramName), primary document, 2026-08-05. - NSF dated the UAA award August 5th. [U.S. National Science Foundation award database](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards.json?id=2614749&printFields=id,title,date,startDate,expDate,awardeeName,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,piFirstName,piLastName,coPDPI,abstractText,fundProgramName), primary document, 2026-08-05. - The award period begins September 1st. [U.S. National Science Foundation award database](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards.json?id=2614749&printFields=id,title,date,startDate,expDate,awardeeName,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,piFirstName,piLastName,coPDPI,abstractText,fundProgramName), primary document, 2026-08-05. - The award period ends August 31st, 2030, making it a four-year project. [U.S. National Science Foundation award database](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards.json?id=2614749&printFields=id,title,date,startDate,expDate,awardeeName,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,piFirstName,piLastName,coPDPI,abstractText,fundProgramName), primary document, 2026-08-05. - The award is funded through the NSF EPSCoR Focused EPSCoR Collaborations track. [U.S. National Science Foundation award database](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards.json?id=2614749&printFields=id,title,date,startDate,expDate,awardeeName,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,piFirstName,piLastName,coPDPI,abstractText,fundProgramName), primary document, 2026-08-05. - The three linked NSF awards share the project title Transformative Bioprocessing and AI-Driven Frameworks for Sustainable Critical Mineral Recovery. [U.S. National Science Foundation award database](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards.json?id=2614751&printFields=id,title,date,startDate,expDate,awardeeName,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,piFirstName,piLastName), primary document, 2026-08-05. - NSF award 2614751 went to the University of Alaska Fairbanks. [U.S. National Science Foundation award database](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards.json?id=2614751&printFields=id,title,date,startDate,expDate,awardeeName,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,piFirstName,piLastName), primary document, 2026-08-05. - The UAF award is $913,037. [U.S. National Science Foundation award database](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards.json?id=2614751&printFields=id,title,date,startDate,expDate,awardeeName,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,piFirstName,piLastName), primary document, 2026-08-05. - Srijan Aggarwal, a UAF professor of environmental engineering, leads UAF's portion as a principal investigator. [UAF News, University of Alaska Fairbanks](https://www.uaf.edu/news/uaf-joins-6m-nsf-critical-minerals-effort.php), primary document, 2026-10-05. - NSF award 2614750 gives Montana Technological University $1,260,800. [U.S. National Science Foundation award database](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards.json?id=2614750&printFields=id,title,date,startDate,expDate,awardeeName,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,piFirstName,piLastName), primary document, 2026-08-05. - Robin Bullock is the principal investigator on the Montana Tech award. [U.S. National Science Foundation award database](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards.json?id=2614750&printFields=id,title,date,startDate,expDate,awardeeName,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,piFirstName,piLastName), primary document, 2026-08-05. - The award abstract says UAA leads the project in partnership with UAF, Montana Technological University and the University of Wyoming. [U.S. National Science Foundation award database](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards.json?id=2614749&printFields=id,title,date,startDate,expDate,awardeeName,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,piFirstName,piLastName,coPDPI,abstractText,fundProgramName), primary document, 2026-08-05. - NSF lists the University of Wyoming as a subawardee on the project. [U.S. National Science Foundation, Office of Integrative Activities](https://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/updates/nsf-announces-399m-nsf-epscor-awards-strengthen-research), primary document, 2026-08-24. - The UAA award lists four co-principal investigators, one of them Tyler C Brown with a University of Wyoming email address. [U.S. National Science Foundation award database](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards.json?id=2614749&printFields=id,title,date,startDate,expDate,awardeeName,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,piFirstName,piLastName,coPDPI,abstractText,fundProgramName), primary document, 2026-08-05. - UAF describes the project as a $6 million NSF-funded effort. [UAF News, University of Alaska Fairbanks](https://www.uaf.edu/news/uaf-joins-6m-nsf-critical-minerals-effort.php), primary document, 2026-10-05. - UAF's share of the work sits at its Institute of Northern Engineering. [UAF News, University of Alaska Fairbanks](https://www.uaf.edu/news/uaf-joins-6m-nsf-critical-minerals-effort.php), primary document, 2026-10-05. - The project aims to recover rare earth elements from domestic coal refuse and ash using microbes. [U.S. National Science Foundation award database](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards.json?id=2614749&printFields=id,title,date,startDate,expDate,awardeeName,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,piFirstName,piLastName,coPDPI,abstractText,fundProgramName), primary document, 2026-08-05. - The abstract plans a predictive Virtual Assay to screen feedstocks. [U.S. National Science Foundation award database](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards.json?id=2614749&printFields=id,title,date,startDate,expDate,awardeeName,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,piFirstName,piLastName,coPDPI,abstractText,fundProgramName), primary document, 2026-08-05. - The abstract plans reinforcement-learning controllers inside a bioprocess digital twin linked to microgrid simulators. [U.S. National Science Foundation award database](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards.json?id=2614749&printFields=id,title,date,startDate,expDate,awardeeName,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,piFirstName,piLastName,coPDPI,abstractText,fundProgramName), primary document, 2026-08-05. - The project will test extraction by the bacterium Shewanella oneidensis against techno-economic and life-cycle metrics. [U.S. National Science Foundation award database](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards.json?id=2614749&printFields=id,title,date,startDate,expDate,awardeeName,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,piFirstName,piLastName,coPDPI,abstractText,fundProgramName), primary document, 2026-08-05. - The abstract frames the goal as a predictive, energy-constrained system. [U.S. National Science Foundation award database](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards.json?id=2614749&printFields=id,title,date,startDate,expDate,awardeeName,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,piFirstName,piLastName,coPDPI,abstractText,fundProgramName), primary document, 2026-08-05. - The abstract names a Smart Bio-Refinery framework and a Virtual Pilot Plant as project outputs. [U.S. National Science Foundation award database](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards.json?id=2614749&printFields=id,title,date,startDate,expDate,awardeeName,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,piFirstName,piLastName,coPDPI,abstractText,fundProgramName), primary document, 2026-08-05. - The abstract plans a federally compliant University Recharge Facility. [U.S. National Science Foundation award database](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards.json?id=2614749&printFields=id,title,date,startDate,expDate,awardeeName,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,piFirstName,piLastName,coPDPI,abstractText,fundProgramName), primary document, 2026-08-05. - Workforce plans include industry-aligned micro-credentials and a Tri-State Field Course. [U.S. National Science Foundation award database](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards.json?id=2614749&printFields=id,title,date,startDate,expDate,awardeeName,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,piFirstName,piLastName,coPDPI,abstractText,fundProgramName), primary document, 2026-08-05. - The award abstract says the U.S. relies heavily on foreign sources for rare earth elements. [U.S. National Science Foundation award database](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards.json?id=2614749&printFields=id,title,date,startDate,expDate,awardeeName,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,piFirstName,piLastName,coPDPI,abstractText,fundProgramName), primary document, 2026-08-05. - UAF says AI will help predict how readily rare earth elements can be recovered from different materials. [UAF News, University of Alaska Fairbanks](https://www.uaf.edu/news/uaf-joins-6m-nsf-critical-minerals-effort.php), primary document, 2026-10-05. - UAF says the team will develop controls that adjust bioreactor operation as conditions and energy availability change. [UAF News, University of Alaska Fairbanks](https://www.uaf.edu/news/uaf-joins-6m-nsf-critical-minerals-effort.php), primary document, 2026-10-05. - The project is one of eight NSF EPSCoR projects sharing a combined $39.9 million. [UAF News, University of Alaska Fairbanks](https://www.uaf.edu/news/uaf-joins-6m-nsf-critical-minerals-effort.php), primary document, 2026-10-05. - UAF says this EPSCoR award is separate from, and in addition to, NSF support for the UAF-led Critical Mineral Accelerator Engine. [UAF News, University of Alaska Fairbanks](https://www.uaf.edu/news/uaf-joins-6m-nsf-critical-minerals-effort.php), primary document, 2026-10-05. - Aggarwal said "This collaboration brings together expertise that no single institution could provide on its own.". [UAF News, University of Alaska Fairbanks](https://www.uaf.edu/news/uaf-joins-6m-nsf-critical-minerals-effort.php), primary document, 2026-10-05. - Aggarwal said "We're connecting environmental engineering, microbiology, mineral processing and AI.". [UAF News, University of Alaska Fairbanks](https://www.uaf.edu/news/uaf-joins-6m-nsf-critical-minerals-effort.php), primary document, 2026-10-05. - NSF announced $39.9 million in EPSCoR Focused EPSCoR Collaborations awards in August. [U.S. National Science Foundation, Office of Integrative Activities](https://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/updates/nsf-announces-399m-nsf-epscor-awards-strengthen-research), primary document, 2026-08-24. - The eight awards span research teams in 16 NSF EPSCoR jurisdictions. [U.S. National Science Foundation, Office of Integrative Activities](https://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/updates/nsf-announces-399m-nsf-epscor-awards-strengthen-research), primary document, 2026-08-24. - Coal used in UAA's earlier rare-earth biomining research was donated by Usibelli Coal Mine in Healy. [UAA News, University of Alaska Anchorage](https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/news/archive/2026/01/biomining-for-rare-earth-elements.cshtml), primary document, 2026-01-22. - A UAA graduate researcher said Usibelli coal has relatively high concentrations of rare earth elements, including scandium and yttrium. [UAA News, University of Alaska Anchorage](https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/news/archive/2026/01/biomining-for-rare-earth-elements.cshtml), primary document, 2026-01-22. - Gleason said Alaska does not currently mine rare earth elements. [UAA News, University of Alaska Anchorage](https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/news/archive/2026/01/biomining-for-rare-earth-elements.cshtml), primary document, 2026-01-22. - Gleason said the coal's rare earths sit at concentrations too small to mine with acid efficiently. [UAA News, University of Alaska Anchorage](https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/news/archive/2026/01/biomining-for-rare-earth-elements.cshtml), primary document, 2026-01-22. - Bacteria for the earlier UAA thesis came from Kennicott Glacier and Root Glacier in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. [UAA News, University of Alaska Anchorage](https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/news/archive/2026/01/biomining-for-rare-earth-elements.cshtml), primary document, 2026-01-22. - The separate UAF-led NSF Critical Mineral Accelerator Engine receives $15 million in its first two years. [UAF Geophysical Institute](https://www.gi.alaska.edu/news/national-science-foundation-funds-uaf-led-critical-minerals-coalition), primary document, 2026-07-14. - The Engine could receive up to $160 million over 10 years. [UAF Geophysical Institute](https://www.gi.alaska.edu/news/national-science-foundation-funds-uaf-led-critical-minerals-coalition), primary document, 2026-07-14. - The Engine plans to use artificial intelligence to help locate mineral deposits. [UAF Geophysical Institute](https://www.gi.alaska.edu/news/national-science-foundation-funds-uaf-led-critical-minerals-coalition), primary document, 2026-07-14. - NSF solicitation 26-513 will make only one AI Infrastructure Hub award per state or multi-state region. [U.S. National Science Foundation](https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/us-national-science-foundation-state-regional-artificial/nsf26-513/solicitation), primary document, 2026-10-05. - Hub proposals request 5 years and a total budget between $4 million and $12 million. [U.S. National Science Foundation](https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/us-national-science-foundation-state-regional-artificial/nsf26-513/solicitation), primary document, 2026-10-05. - NSF estimates 10 hub awards. [U.S. National Science Foundation](https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/us-national-science-foundation-state-regional-artificial/nsf26-513/solicitation), primary document, 2026-10-05. - The first full proposal deadline is November 4th. [U.S. National Science Foundation](https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/us-national-science-foundation-state-regional-artificial/nsf26-513/solicitation), primary document, 2026-10-05. - NSF last updated the solicitation page on October 5th. [U.S. National Science Foundation](https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/us-national-science-foundation-state-regional-artificial/nsf26-513/solicitation), primary document, 2026-10-05. - NSF award 2433241, Rural AI Solutions and Engagement (RAISE), gives the University of Alaska Anchorage $380,000. [U.S. National Science Foundation award database](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards.json?id=2433241&printFields=id,title,date,startDate,expDate,awardeeName,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,piFirstName,piLastName), primary document, 2024-07-29. - Kenrick Mock is principal investigator on the RAISE award. [U.S. National Science Foundation award database](https://api.nsf.gov/services/v1/awards.json?id=2433241&printFields=id,title,date,startDate,expDate,awardeeName,fundsObligatedAmt,estimatedTotalAmt,piFirstName,piLastName), primary document, 2024-07-29. - UAA's Alaska AI Solutions Consortium set October 7th as the full proposal deadline for its RAISE community partner mini grants. [UAA College of Engineering, Artificial Intelligence @ UAA](https://coeng.uaa.alaska.edu/AI/?p=611), primary document. - RAISE mini grant awards are to be announced November 2nd. [UAA College of Engineering, Artificial Intelligence @ UAA](https://coeng.uaa.alaska.edu/AI/?p=611), primary document. - The crowdsourced DeFlock map shows eight Flock cameras within the Municipality of Anchorage, according to the Anchorage Daily News. [Anchorage Daily News](https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage/2026/10/06/flock-cameras-arrive-in-anchorage-while-assembly-duels-over-surveillance-policies/), report, 2026-10-06. - ADN reported four of the cameras at the Midtown Lowe's and four at the Tikahtnu Commons Lowe's. [Anchorage Daily News](https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage/2026/10/06/flock-cameras-arrive-in-anchorage-while-assembly-duels-over-surveillance-policies/), report, 2026-10-06. - Lowe's says it typically keeps license plate reader data no more than 90 days. [Anchorage Daily News](https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage/2026/10/06/flock-cameras-arrive-in-anchorage-while-assembly-duels-over-surveillance-policies/), report, 2026-10-06. - Competing surveillance measures from Mayor Suzanne LaFrance's administration and a group of Assembly members are expected to go to an Assembly vote on October 20th. [Anchorage Daily News](https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage/2026/10/06/flock-cameras-arrive-in-anchorage-while-assembly-duels-over-surveillance-policies/), report, 2026-10-06. - A recall petition against Mayor LaFrance still needs 7,225 signatures before a December 7th deadline. [Anchorage Daily News](https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/anchorage/2026/10/06/flock-cameras-arrive-in-anchorage-while-assembly-duels-over-surveillance-policies/), report, 2026-10-06. - Someone cut down a newly installed camera at the Lowe's at 10900 Old Seward Highway. [Alaska's News Source (KTUU)](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/10/06/downed-flock-camera-outside-south-anchorage-lowes-confirmed-apd-says-no-report-filed-no-access-feed/), report, 2026-10-05. - The camera was cut down at about 11:28 p.m. on October 4th, according to the report APD confirmed. [Alaska's News Source (KTUU)](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/10/06/downed-flock-camera-outside-south-anchorage-lowes-confirmed-apd-says-no-report-filed-no-access-feed/), report, 2026-10-05. - Flock said it began installing license plate reader cameras for a private customer in Alaska the week before. [Alaska's News Source (KTUU)](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/10/06/downed-flock-camera-outside-south-anchorage-lowes-confirmed-apd-says-no-report-filed-no-access-feed/), report, 2026-10-05. - APD says it does not use Flock cameras and has no access to the store's video feed. [Alaska's News Source (KTUU)](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/10/06/downed-flock-camera-outside-south-anchorage-lowes-confirmed-apd-says-no-report-filed-no-access-feed/), report, 2026-10-05. - Police Chief Sean Case told the Assembly on August 4th that APD's system is "completely different" from Flock. [Alaska's News Source (KTUU)](https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2026/10/06/downed-flock-camera-outside-south-anchorage-lowes-confirmed-apd-says-no-report-filed-no-access-feed/), report, 2026-10-05. Slides and the deck PDF are linked from the canonical page.